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this was supposed to be temporary

Summary:

peachmochi
fair human interaction is overrated

Gh0stboy93
Says the guy talking to a stranger at 1:52am.

peachmochi
yeah but you’re different you’re… internet people

Gh0stboy93
That’s not a compliment.

peachmochi
it could be 💔

Gh0stboy93
You mentioned a mild existential crisis?

peachmochi
oh yea, i forgot
do u ever think like… what if I’m fated to always be a background character in someone else’s story? n that nothing you do actually matters?

Gh0stboy93
Oh, wow, okay, you’re discovering the joy of Nihilism I see.

or

two strangers meet in an anonymous chatroom and everything after is a series of bad ideas they can’t stop having

Notes:

so… I’ve been reading way too many chat fics lately, and I thought, “what if?” My brain said, “okay girlie, but hear me out…”
...
so welcome to 'this was supposed to be temporary'!

updates will happen as I write, so things might shift along the way.

alright, welcome to the chatroom. let’s see where this goes..

Chapter Text

*New Anonymous Chat with Gh0stboy93 and peachmochi*

 

 

Ghostboy93

ASL?

 

peachmochi

bold opener what is this, a time capsule from 2004

should i be bracing for a chain email telling me i’ll be cursed if i don’t forward it to 10 friends

 

 

Gh0stboy93

Depends, are you the type to post cryptic song lyrics when you’re mad at someone?

 

peachmochi

 obviously how else am i supposed to process feelings

 

Gh0stboy93

Therapy.

 

peachmochi

expensive, vague-posting is free

 

Gh0stboy93

Fairs, I'm 26 / M / Daegu btw.

 

peachmochi

ew, daegu, I'm 24 / m / busan

 

Gh0stboy93

…did you just say “ew” to my entire city?

 

peachmochi

yeah someone has to keep you humble

 

Gh0stboy93

Bold for someone from Busan.

 

peachmochi

 busan is elite we have beaches and better seafood

Gh0stboy93

Congrats on having water and fish I guess.

So what brings you to the land of strangers and unsolicited sexting?

 

peachmochi

 boredom insomnia mild existential crisis you?

 

Gh0stboy93

Same minus the boredom and existential crisis, plus a neighbour who’s learning the recorder at midnight.

 

peachmochi

that’s a hate crime

 

Gh0stboy93

Agreed.

 

peachmochi

you should file a noise complaint

 

Gh0stboy93

I would but then I'd have to talk to people.

peachmochi

fair human interaction is overrated

 

Gh0stboy93

Says the guy talking to a stranger at 1:52am.

 

peachmochi

yeah but you’re different you’re… internet people

 

Gh0stboy93

That’s not a compliment.

 

peachmochi

it could be </3

 

Gh0stboy93

You mentioned a mild existential crisis?

 

peachmochi

oh yea, i forgot

do u ever think like… what if I’m fated to always be a background character in someone else’s story? n that nothing you do actually matters?

 

Gh0stboy93

Oh, wow, okay, you’re discovering the joy of Nihilism I see.

 

peachmochi

wtf does that mean

 

Gh0stboy93

It means you’re spiralling about existence for no reason.

 

peachmochi

excuse you, this is deep character development

let me romanticise my suffering in peace

 

Gh0stboy93

Fine.

So, should I ask your name, or is this one of those chats where we never speak again?

 

peachmochi

probably the second one

 

Gh0stboy93

Cool. Then I won’t bother.

 

peachmochi

bold of you to assume i was gonna give you my real one anyway lolll

 

Gh0stboy93

Oh, so you’re a fake‑name kind of person.

 

peachmochi

obviously, i’m not about to hand my government name to “gh0stboy93” at 2 a.m hfjdks

 

Gh0stboy93

Fair. I wouldn’t trust me either.

 

peachmochi

ooopp that was deep

 

Gh0stboy93

Not really. Just basic self‑awareness.

 

peachmochi

wow okay philosopher king

 

Gh0stboy93

Pretty low bar for royalty.

 

peachmochi

fine, court jester then

 

Gh0stboy93

I’ll take it. Less responsibility. More my style.

 

peachmochi

more opportunity for chaos too

 

Gh0stboy93

Exactly. Chaos is my forte.

 

peachmochi

…alright, demonstrate your chaos credentials

 

Gh0stboy93

How?

 

peachmochi

surprise me

 

Gh0stboy93

That’s vague and dangerous.

 

peachmochi

good, i like dangerous

 

Gh0stboy93

You say that now.

 

peachmochi

what, you gonna send me a cursed meme or something?

 

Gh0stboy93

That’s level one chaos.

 

peachmochi

oh there are levels??

 

Gh0stboy93

Obviously. You don’t start with the boss fight at 2 a.m.

 

peachmochi

fine, hit me with level one

 

Gh0stboy93

…drop me somewhere to send it that isn’t this chatroom.

 

peachmochi

bold of you to assume i’d give you that kind of access to me

 

Gh0stboy93

Relax, I’m not asking for your bank details… yet.

 

peachmochi

 …

[drops number]

 

Gh0stboy92

Oh, you actually did it.

 

peachmochi

your move, court jester

Chapter 2: two

Chapter Text

010-5831-4409

Okay, I wasn’t expecting you to actually drop your number.

Now I feel like I need to send something meaningful.

Or at least mildly cursed.

 

010-2947-8612

do your worst i’m already texting a stranger at 2am how much worse can it get

 

010-5831-4409

Challenge accepted.

 

010-2947-8612:

oh my god this is so cursed i’m crying

ur dangerous

i’m saving you as “daegu menace” muahhaha

 

Daegu Menace

I’m honoured. What do I get for you? “peachmochi” feels like something I’d name a pet I trust too easily.

 

010-2947-8612

fair you can go with “prettiest boy in busan” if you’re feeling generous

or “daegu h8r” if you’re feeling petty

 

Daegu Menace

“Prettiest boy in Busan” is a bold claim from a stranger.

But I admire the branding.

 

010-2947-8612

gotta commit to the bit even if it’s delusional

 

Daegu Menace

Delusion is half the charm.

Alright, you’re now “Busan Delusion” in my phone.

 

Busan Delusion

i feel like i should be offended but honestly? i’m flattered

 

Daegu Menace

Good. That’s the exact emotional confusion i was going for.

 

Busan Delusion

mission accomplished, now every time you text me i’ll get a notification from “daegu menace” and feel like i’m being threatened by a gang member who has a collection of cursed memes

 

Daegu Menace

As intended, I’m here to mildly destabilise and occasionally entertain.

 

Busan Delusion

you’re succeeding, this was supposed to be cursed meme exchange now it’s… whatever this is

 

Daegu Menace

Dangerous territory. Next thing you know, we’re swapping playlists and trauma.

 

Busan Delusion

pls let me spiral in peace no playlists until level five chaos

 

Daegu Menace

Deal. But just so you know, I already have a folder titled “songs to send a stranger at 2am”

 

Busan Delusion

you’re terrifying

im intrigued

 

Daegu Menace

That’s the correct response; fear and curiosity. The foundation of all great late-night texting.

 

Busan Delusion

you forgot sleep deprivation and emotional instability

 

Daegu Menace

Those are implied. This is 2:43am lore after all.

 

Busan Delusion

true we’re basically writing our own mythos at this point

 

Daegu Menace

Chapter one: cursed memes, Chapter two: identity crisis, Chapter three: ???, Chapter four: marriage and kids.

 

Busan Delusion

pls skip chapter four i’m allergic to vulnerability

also im like the wrong gender for u

 

Daegu Menace

Bold of you to assume that I’m that straight.

 

Busan Delusion

bold of you to assume i’m not

spoiler: i’m bi so, chapter four’s still cursed but technically possible

 

Daegu Menace

Noted. Chapter four is now: cursed, queer, and wildly hypothetical ideas.

 

Busan Delusion

perfect just the way i like my emotional arcs

 

Daegu Menace

So what I'm hearing is that you’re open to fictional commitment but allergic to actual feelings.

 

Busan Delusion

exactly i thrive in the space between irony and sincerity

 

Daegu Menace

Dangerous. You want me to send you a playlist called “songs that sound like flirting but are actually emotional warfare”?

 

Busan Delusion

pls i already have one called “music to cry to while pretending i’m fine”

 

Daegu Menace

We’re either soulmates or a disaster waiting to happen.

 

Busan Delusion

y not both lol

 

Daegu Menace

Classic bisexual answer. Chaos and romance in equal measure.

 

Busan Delusion

we contain multitudes mostly bad decisions and niche playlists

 

Daegu Menace

And a fondness for cursed memes, don’t forget your roots.

 

Busan Delusion

never i’m emotionally unstable but brand-consistent

 

Daegu Menace

Honestly? That’s hot.

 

Busan Delusion

pls i’m trying to spiral in peace don’t flirt with me while i’m vulnerable

 

Daegu Menace

You dropped your number at 2am. You forfeited peace.

 

Busan Delusion

tragic guess i’ll just keep texting the ghost boy from daegu until one of us catches feelings or disappears mid-convo

 

Daegu Menace

bold of you to assume i haven’t already started

Busan Delusion

started what?

started what????

u not replying doesn’t help either side of this

ok goodnight ig

Chapter 3: three

Chapter Text

Daegu Menace

I thought you'd find this funny.

Busan Delusion

wtf is that

 

Daegu Menace

Thomas the Cursed Dog.

 

Busan Delusion

huh, don’t think ive seen that show dfghjjgf

also u never answered me last night

 

Daegu Menace

I was going to but then I closed my eyes for one second and it was 10am and I figured ghosting would be more on-brand for me than catching feelings.

 

 

Busan Delusion

rude i was spiralling and dramatic and you abandoned me mid-monologue

 

Daegu Menace

I assumed you’d keep texting yourself. You seemed committed.

 

Busan Delusion

i did, it was tragic i almost wrote a poem

 

Daegu Menace

Almost?

 

Busan Delusion

i got halfway through a metaphor about strangers and emotional abandonment then remembered i don’t know your name so i gave up

 

Daegu Menace

That’s fair. Would’ve been hard to rhyme with “Daegu Menace”.

 

Busan Delusion

i tried it got weird

 

Daegu Menace

I'm sure it did.

 

Busan Delusion

anyway what are you up to today besides emotionally destabilising strangers with cursed dog memes?

 

Daegu Menace

I’m currently horizontal and contemplating whether cereal counts as a meal.

 

Busan Delusion

it does if you eat it with existential dread

 

Daegu Menace

Then I'm thriving.

What are you up to today?

 

Busan Delusion

work, tragically. trying to act normal in front of coworkers while emotionally spiralling over a stranger named after a ghost

 

Daegu Menace

Sounds like a full-time job already.

 

Busan Delusion

it is but unfortunately capitalism insists i also answer emails and pretend i know what i’m doing

 

Daegu Menace

So you work in an office?

 

Busan Delusion

yeah, graphic design for a marketing team which means i spend half my day making things look pretty and the other half pretending i care about fonts and brand synergy

 

Daegu Menace

You’re professionally aesthetic and emotionally unstable. Dangerous combo there.

 

Busan Delusion

exactly i’m the guy who’ll spiral over a colour palette while crying to IU

 

Daegu Menace

I respect that. You’re basically the bisexual embodiment of Adobe Illustrator and emotional damage.

 

Busan Delusion

id be double bisexual then, omg

 

Daegu Menace

Double bisexual: Graphic Design Edition. Like a mood board with trust issues.

 

Busan Delusion

pls i’m trying to survive this meeting don’t make me laugh out loud in front of my boss

 

Daegu Menace

Tell them you’re experiencing a branding emergency. Your emotional colour palette is misaligned.

 

Busan Delusion

honestly? not wrong today’s vibe is “soft panic in muted tones”

 

Daegu Menace

Why panic?

 

Busan Delusion

deadline day :((( client wants “something fresh” but also “exactly like last year” and my laptop sounds like it’s auditioning for a plane engine

 

Daegu Menace

Ah, the creative trifecta: vague feedback, impossible timelines, and crippling dying tech.

 

Busan Delusion

yep, plus i’m running on one coffee, three hours of sleep, and the willpower of a damp paper towel

 

Daegu Menace

Peak condition to make business-altering decisions.

 

Busan Delusion

exactly which is why i’m texting a stranger named after a ghost instead of fixing the layout on this brochure

 

Daegu Menace

I'm honoured to be part of your professional downfall.

 

Busan Delusion

good at least one of us is benefitting from my slow descent into unemployment

 

Daegu Menace

Benefitting is a strong word. I’m just here with cereal watching you ignore your responsibilities in real time.

 

Busan Delusion

kinda implies you’re invested, dangerous territory for two people who don’t even know each other’s names

 

Daegu Menace

Names are overrated, mystery keeps the vibe alive.

 

Busan Delusion

mystery is cute until i have to explain to HR why “daegu menace” is taking up my working time

 

Daegu Menace

Tell them it’s a client. A very important, extremely cursed client who wants no graphic work done, just someone to look through their cursed meme collection.

 

Busan Delusion

chaotic but consistent, respect the commitment to the name

 

Daegu Menace

Good because you’re stuck with it and me. At least until you block me for productivity reasons.

 

Busan Delusion

tempting but then who would send me cursed dogs and unsolicited life commentary

 

Daegu Menace

Exactly. I’m basically a public service at this point.

 

Busan Delusion

fine you can stay but if i get fired i’m putting “daegu menace” as my emergency contact

 

Daegu Menace

Deal. I'll bring popcorn to the HR meeting.

Chapter 4: four

Notes:

Fixing images

Chapter Text

Busan Delusion

it’s 2:03am and i just redesigned the same layout six times and now i hate all fonts

 

Daegu Menace

Even Helvetica?

 

Busan Delusion

especially Helvetica. she betrayed me

 

Daegu Menace

Tragic. Betrayal by Sans-serif.

 

Busan Delusion

no but srsly, the client gave me another two days to finish this and its shit

 

Daegu Menace

Two days is just enough time to spiral harder and rename the file “final_final_v7_plsGod”.

 

Busan Delusion

already done. i’m emotionally attached to a layout i hate

 

Daegu Menace

…do you need a second set of eyes?

 

Busan Delusion

what ??

 

Daegu Menace

If you want. I can look at it. I can help you figure out what's wrong.

 

Busan Delusion

you’re offering actual help? like, real critique? not just a cursed meme ??

 

Daegu Menace

I’m not just memes and emotional sabotage. I have layers.

 

Busan Delusion

like a cursed onion

 

Daegu Menace

That makes no sense.

 

Busan Delusion

okay fine i'm desperate, i’m sending it. if you roast me i’m blocking you and blaming you for my unemployment

 

Daegu Menace

Fair. I’ll be gentle. Probably.

 

Busan Delusion

be nice

 

Daegu Menace

Okay. I looked at it.

 

Busan Delusion

and ??

 

Daegu Menace

It’s not bad. You’re just overthinking it.

 

Busan Delusion

rude but accurate

 

Daegu Menace

Left panel’s solid. The photos are strong, but the text needs breathing room. Add some text boxes or make the words bigger.

The cover works fine. The back is a bit plain, maybe add something to fill in the blue a bit more. Make the QR code bigger maybe?

 

Busan Delusion

i stared at that panel for an hour and couldn’t figure out why it felt empty

 

Daegu Menace

It just needs more to look at. What feedback did you get from the client?

 

Busan Delusion

i don’t know why this one’s hitting so hard. it’s just a info brochure ughfjdk

uhhh… the client said “make it feel welcoming but also professional. something fresh, but not too modern. keep the tradition visible, but don’t make it look old."

 

Daegu Menace

What does that even mean?

 

Busan Delusion

EXACTLY!!!!!

ITS SO VAGUE, I NEED STEP BY STEP BULLET POINTS ON WHAT I NEED TO CHANGE

that’s it I quit, imma start an only fans and sell my body

 

Daegu Menace

Alright, calm down. Deep breath. Let’s translate this shitty feedback into actual design moves. You want bullet points? I got you.

“Welcoming but professional” = warm colours, clean layout, soft fonts. Use spacing. Let it breathe. No visual panic.

“Fresh but not too modern” = no neon, no tech startup vibes. Add soft textures. Brush strokes, maybe some clouds. Keep it grounded.

“Tradition visible, not old” = no sepia, no ornate borders. Use clean imagery. Stylize it. Flat icons, line art.

You’re not failing. You’re just trying to do five moods at once. Pick one. Let the rest follow.

 

Busan Delusion

okay wait why is this actually helpful

why do i feel like you just translated my emotional breakdown into layout language

 

Daegu Menace

That’s literally what design is. Emotional breakdowns, but make it printable.

 

Busan Delusion

i feel attacked

but also seen

but also attacked

 

Daegu Menace

Good. That means I'm helping.

 

Busan Delusion

okokok i’m gonna try again

gonna soften the gradient space the text

maybe add clouds

maybe cry

 

Daegu Menace

Add the clouds. Cry later. You’ve got this.

 

Busan Delusion

hows this ???

sorry its been like 45 mins ive been locked the fuck in ghfdj

 

 

Daegu Menace

That’s actually a lot better.

Feels intentional now.

You gave it room to breathe.

 

Busan Delusion

i hate that you’re good at this

i was ready for chaos not clarity

 

Daegu Menace

Chaos is the first draft. Clarity’s what happens when you survive it.

 

Busan Delusion

ok i’m gonna tweak the spacing one last time then cry then send it to my boss

oh and

thank u, I was close to a mental fuckin breakdown

 

Daegu Menace

Don’t mention it.

Just being a friendly stranger with unsolicited design opinions.

Go and send it and get some sleep. I need to go.

My friend wants to go to a PC Bang tomorrow morning, and I can't keep my eyes open anymore.

 

Busan Delusion

okok. thank u again.

genuinely.

this was like… weirdly grounding

 

Daegu Menace

Glad it helped.

 

Busan Delusion

if the client says “make it pop” i’m throwing my laptop out the window and quitting

 

Daegu Menace

then i’ll haunt their inbox personally.

 

Busan Delusion

sleep well, ghost consultant

hope the PC Bang has good snacks

 

Daegu Menace

always. good luck with the send. you’ve got this.

Chapter 5: five

Chapter Text

Busan Delusion

OMGOMGOMG

GHOSTBOY

GHPSTBIY

 

Daegu Menace

You good?

 

Busan Delusion

THE CLIWNT SAID “BALANCED AND INVITING”

THEY SAID “SUBTLE BUT EFFECTIVE”

THEY SAID “THSNK YOU FOR YOIR HARD WORK” WITH A SMILEY FACE !!!

 

Daegu Menace

You got a smiley face?

That’s basically a standing ovation in client language.

 

Busan Delusion

I’m gonna cRYYYY

I was emotionally prepared for “can we try another direction”

Not this AAAAAA

i’m naming the file “final_final_v9_smiley_face_redemption”

i’m gonna print it and tape it to my forehead

 

Daegu Menace

Do it. Let it be your crown.

 

Busan Delusion

ok but

genuinely thank u

i was spiralling so hard last night

how was the pc café??

 

Daegu Menace

Still here. Still slightly caffeinated.

Playing LOL with my Dongsaeng.

He’s yelling at the screen like it betrayed him.

I’m just vibing.

 

Busan Delusion

omgomgomg you play League too??

ghostboy confirmed gamer??

 

Daegu Menace

Unfortunately, yes.

I design by moonlight and tilt in duo queue by daylight.

 

Busan Delusion

who do u main

pls don’t say Yasuo

i can’t emotionally handle it

 

Daegu Menace

Support main.

Mostly Rakan, sometimes Bard if I’m feeling angry. I like chaos.

 

Busan Delusion

i know u do

i main Soraka btw

 

Daegu Menace

Of course you do. That makes so much sense it’s almost unsettling.

 

Busan Delusion

i just want everyone to feel safe and slightly sparkly is that so wrong??

we should totally play together some time

 

Daegu Menace

I'm down.

Could be fun.

 

Busan Delusion

do u have discord??

 

Daegu Menace

Uh.

I do.

 

Busan Delusion

??

can I have ur username?

 

Daegu Menace

Uh.

I'd say yes but it has my real name in it.

 

Busan Delusion

oh.. right..

sorry no that’s ok, we can just use game chat if that’s easier for u

 

Daegu Menace .

..I mean it’s just a name, right?

It's not like you’re going to stalk me with it.

Right??

 

Busan Delusion

omg no

i literally am a graphic designer who lives off ramen and loves ateez too much

i’m not emotionally stable enough to stalk anyone i just want to vibe and win some matches

my discord aslo has my real name in it too if that makes u feel better

 

Daegu Menace

...Okay.

I'll think about it for now.

 

Busan Delusion

valid

u can stay mysterious for now

 

Daegu Menace

Thanks. Mystery is kind of my brand anyway.

Appearing in queues, fucking up strangers, then vanishing before the post-game chat loads.

 

Busan Delusion

honestly iconic

but if you ever feel like breaking character i’ll be here with healing, ramen, and a playlist titled “league but make it cunty”

 

Daegu Menace

 ...Tempting.

I’ll keep that in mind.

Chapter 6: six

Chapter Text

Daegu Menace

You back from work yet?

 

Busan Delusion

on the bus home now

theres a weird old man staring at me

 

Daegu Menace

Stare him out.

Assert dominance.

 

Busan Delusion

me?? dominant??

that’s funny

 

Daegu Menace

Soft dominance counts.

Like direct eye contact and a mocking laugh.

 

Busan Delusion

i gave him the eye contact

but my laugh came out like a polite cough

so now i think he thinks he won

ty for the great advice ghost </3

 

Daegu Menace

Any time Mochi.

 

Busan Delusion

im getting off in two stops

i need bubble tea and my bed

 

Daegu Menace

Bubble tea and bed sounds like a solid plan.

You’ve earned it with that cool ass leaflet.

 

Busan Delusion

**brochure

 

Daegu Menace

What's the fucking difference?

 

Busan Delusion

leaflet is what you hand out at train stations

brochure is what you cry over at 2am because the spacing feels emotionally off

 

Daegu Menace

Subjective.

What actually is the difference?

One sec… Googling.

 

Busan Delusion

ok i looked too apparently leaflets are single sheets

brochures have multiple panels

so basically:

leaflet = “here’s a thing, bye” brochure = “sit down, we need to talk about our brand values”

 

Daegu Menace

So yours was a brochure? I stand corrected.

 

Busan Delusion

yessirrr

 

Daegu Menace

Sir, huh?

Didn’t expect that, but I’ll take it.

You sure you want to hand that over so easily?

 

Busan Delusion

stfu, it’s a figure of speech :(((

 

Daegu Menace

Mm.

…right.

 

Busan Delusion

ur weird

i regret everything

im blocking u

 

Daegu Menace

Go ahead.

But you’ll still be thinking about me at 2 AM when you usually message me.

 

Busan Delusion

i messaged you two times

because i couldn’t sleep

and because i was spiralling over a folded piece of paper

don’t make it romantic

 

Daegu Menace

Two times is enough.

You gave me insomnia and an huge ego, what else am I supposed to do with that?

 

Busan Delusion

i was venting you were just…

available

don’t assign meaning to it

 

Daegu Menace

So I'm just someone you talk to because I'm available huh?

 

Busan Delusion

yes gfdsfds

you were online and mildly tolerable

don’t read into it

 

Daegu Menace

Wow.

Ok, I see how it is.

 

Busan Delusion

don’t do that

don’t type like you’re dramatically closing a door and walking into the rain

 

Daegu Menace

Nah, it’s fine.

I’ll just recalibrate my expectations.

Next time you spiral, I'll send you a stock image and a thumbs up emoji.

 

Busan Delusion

ur evil

i come to you in a moment of weakness and you threaten me with clip art

 

Daegu Menace

You said i was “mildly tolerable”.

This is me adjusting to the role.

 

Busan Delusion

i take it back

you’re wildly tolerable

dangerously tolerable

 

Daegu Menace

Too late.

I’ve already downloaded the stock image.

It’s a man in a suit pointing at a pie chart.

Very comforting.

 

Busan Delusion

i hate that i can see it

he’s smiling

like he knows my secrets

 

Daegu Menace

He does.

He’s the visual embodiment of “you good?”

And I'm sending him next time you text me past midnight.

 

Busan Delusion

ur cruel

 

Daegu Menace

You called me sir.

This is the natural consequence.

 

Busan Delusion

I’m blocking you but only spiritually so you can still reply, i just won’t acknowledge it

 

Daegu Menace

Perfect, I'll keep sending pie charts until you fold again…

Brochure pun intended.

 

Busan Delusion

i hate u sm

Chapter 7: seven

Chapter Text

Daegu Menace

So I've been thinking.

 

Busan Delusion

it’s 1:35am

don’t start acting reflective now

 

Daegu Menace

Shush.

So I've been thinking.

I think I’m willing to share my Discord.

 

Busan Delusion

you’re joking ??

is this a trap ????

 

Daegu Menace

No trap.

I just think I’m okay with you knowing my real name.

Are you okay with me knowing yours?

 

Busan Delusion

that’s so intimate

i thought we were just bullying each other over brochures

 

Daegu Menace

We were.

But now you’re in my late-night thoughts and I’m mildly invested.

Might as well escalate.

 

Busan Delusion

fine but if u think mine’s weird

you’re not allowed to make fun of it

 

Daegu Menace

I won’t.

But if it’s normal, I’m still reacting like it’s a reveal because now I get to say it casually in future texts and pretend we’re close.

 

Busan Delusion

it’s not weird it’s aggressively average

you’re gonna be disappointed

 

Daegu Menace

Send it.

I’ll act surprised anyway.

Might even type it with a dramatic pause, just to mess with you.

 

Busan Delusion

ok here it is

Jiminie94

 

Daegu Menace

Your name is Jiminie?

 

Busan Delusion

no

its Jimin

jiminie is my nickname

now send yours before i combust

 

Daegu Menace

Fine.

Yoongiverse88

 

Busan Delusion

omg ur name is verse???

 

Daegu Menace

No it’s Yoongi, dumbass.

The “verse” is for dramatic tension and emotional repression. Also music.

Keep up.

 

Busan Delusion

omg wait it’s weird we know each other’s names now

like we’ve crossed some invisible line

 

Daegu Menace

Correct, we’ve gone from brochure bullying to doxxing.

Next step is sending voice notes and sharing our passwords.

 

Busan Delusion

don’t threaten me with voice notes

i’ll combust in lowercase

 

Daegu Menace

Oh, you like voices, hm?

Suddenly “Jiminie94” sounds like someone who’d blush at a well-timed sigh.

Should I test that theory?

 

Busan Delusion

stop i’m already spiralling and now you’re adding audio intimacy

this is a hostile takeover

 

Daegu Menace

I mean, I’ve been told I have a nice voice.

Low, Comfortable. Dangerous.

The kind that makes people rethink their boundaries mid-conversation.

 

Busan Delusion

oh?

u should show me some time

 

Daegu Menace 

That sounded like a request.

 

Busan Delusion

maybe it is

maybe i just want proof before i combust over a hypothetical

 

Daegu Menace 

You want proof?

 

Busan Delusion

i want plausible deniability

so when i spiral later i can say “well he did warn me”

 

Daegu Menace

Perfect.

I’ll send a voice note that’s exactly 3 seconds long, just enough to ruin your night gently.

 

Busan Delusion

i don’t believe u

 

Daegu Menace

Bet.

[Sent a Voice Note]

 

Busan Delusion

fuck

now im horny

 

Daegu Menace

All I said was 'Goodnight Jimin'.

With a sigh.

And maybe a little intention

 

Busan Delusion

fuck why is your voice hot

i wasn’t prepared for this

 

Daegu Menace

I did warn you.

 

Busan Delusion

Stfu

you sound like you read bedtime stories and ruin lives

i’m crashing out rn

 

Daegu Menace

You’re ridiculous.

It’s literally just a voice.

 

Busan Delusion

yeah and now it lives in my head rent-free with MY NAME ATTACHED

 

Daegu Menace

Do you want me to say something else, or are you going to keep spiralling?

 

Busan Delusion

both

i want more

but also i need to sleep

or idfk jerk offhgfds

 

Daegu Menace

That escalated.

I respect the honesty.

Can you send me a voice note too? I'm curious as to what you sound like too.

 

Busan Delusion

absolutely not

i probs sound like a panicked anime side character rn after that

and i’m not risking it

 

Daegu Menace

Even better. I want the chaos.

Give me two seconds of breathing and one nervous swallow.

 

Busan Delusion

no bc what if i sound cringe

what if you hear it and immediately block me

 

Daegu Menace

I won’t.

I’ll just bully you gently and replay it a few hundred times.

 

Busan Delusion

you’re evil

i’m gonna rehearse in my voice notes app

 

Daegu Menace

Good.

I expect at least three drafts and one version where you accidentally say “wait no” halfway through.

 

Busan Delusion

u know me scarily well for a semi stranger

 

Daegu Menace

That’s because you spiral in a very specific font.

I've decoded your entire emotional keyboard layout.

 

Busan Delusion

ok rude

but also accurate

i do have a panic typing style

and you’ve weaponized it

fuck u

 

Daegu Menace

I’m just observant and slightly obsessed with your lowercase breakdowns.

 

Busan Delusion

stop i’m already rehearsing fake casual greetings

like “hey lol”

and they all sound like

i’m being held hostage

 

Daegu Menace

Perfect. I want the version where you try to sound chill and immediately choke on your own name.

 

Busan Delusion

OKOK ILL SEND IT

DON’T BLOCK ME PLZ

[Sent a Voice Note]

 

Daegu Menace

oh fuck

 

Busan Delusion

im not blocked!!!

did I do good??

u forgot ur formal uppercase letters

 

Daegu Menace

You said “Goodnight Yoongi” like you were trying to ruin me…

I’m genuinely flustered and pretending I'm not.

 

Busan Delusion

ok but like was it cringe or hot

i need a full review before i spiral again

 

Daegu Menace

Hot.

 

Busan Delusion

wow u sent that in about 0.1 seconds

hehehehe

did i break u like u broke me?? :D

 

Daegu Menace

I'm already broken, you just stepped on my remains.

 

Busan Delusion

poetic

as much as im loving this shameless flirting

i have 2 work early tomorrow

:(((

 

Daegu Menace

Work? It's Saturday tomorrow?

 

Busan Delusion

i have 2 jobs, graphics mon to fri and i work part time at a café on the weekend mornings

 

Daegu Menace

So you literally don’t get a day off?

 

Busan Delusion

bahahahah no

im broke

i need money

so I work

 

Daegu Menace

You’ve never told me that before.

 

Busan Delusion

yeah well

it never came up

and uve never told me what u do either

so i guess we’re even

 

Daegu Menace

True.

Well, I work in music.

Freelance stuff, mostly editing, mixing, voice direction.

Sometimes vocals too.

 

Busan Delusion

wait you sing??

 

Daegu Menace

Rap.

 

Busan Delusion

oh fuck me that’s hot

 

Daegu Menace

I just casually drop a career reveal and now you’re spiralling.

 

Busan Delusion

i am spiralling

you rap??

and you sent me a voice note like it was nothing??

this is emotional warfare

this is illegal

 

Daegu Menace

I didn’t lie, I just didn’t mention that the voice note came with a fancy ass studio mic and soundproof walls.

 

Busan Delusion

HELLO???

U HAVE A STUDIO R U LIKE RICH N FAMOUS???

do people know you?? like… know know??

 

Daegu Menace

Define “know know”.

Like… do strangers recognise my voice before my face?

Yes.

Do I have a Wikipedia page I didn’t write?

Also yes.

 

Busan Delusion

i need to lie down.

you’re out here casually being famous while i’m sending breathy voice notes from my ikea duvet

 

Daegu Menace

Your Ikea duvet voice note made me hard.

Don’t downplay it.

 

Busan Delusion

YOONGI

 

Daegu Menace

:)

Chapter 8: eight

Chapter Text

Busan Delusion

gmmm, okk im at work rn

and its dead bc its like 7:30

so i have questions

 

Daegu Menace

Sorry, just saw this like two hours too late.

Good morning Jimin.

Go ahead, what do you want to know?

 

Busan Delusion

HIII 30 MINS LATE

sorryim on my break now I have like 20 mins

and i have questions

about your job

not your voice this time

Mostly

 

Daegu Menace

I’m bracing myself.

Hit me.

 

Busan Delusion

if u insist

 

Daegu Menace

Jimin.

 

Busan Delusion

sorryyyy

 

Daegu Menace

Questions, ask.

 

Busan Delusion

OKOK

right q1 is

what kind of music do you work on?

like genre-wise

 

Daegu Menace

Depends on the project. Mostly hip-hop, alt R&B, some experimental stuff.

I’ve done sound design for short films too.

For my personal music, I usually stick to R&B and Hard Rap.

 

Busan Delusion

ok wait

you’re a versatile king

we love to see it

ok uhhhh

second question: do you work solo or with a team?

 

Daegu Menace

Solo mostly, but I collab with producers and vocalists when needed sometimes.

I ghost-mix for artists who don’t want people to know they didn’t do it themselves.

I also produce for artists and sell my songs.

 

Busan Delusion

woahhhh

ok last question before i go back to steaming milk and pretending i’m not spiralling again

do you have music out??

like… can i listen to it?? spotify? youtube?

 

Daegu Menace

Yes, I do have music out.

But if i tell you my stage name, you’ll see my face like… in an actual MV.

And I'm not sure I'm ready for that yet.

 

Busan Delusion

HELLO???

you’re telling me i flirted with a voice note and it turns out the voice has a face reveal with professional lighting and choreography???

 

Daegu Menace

Not choreography.

I’m not an idol, but yeah there’s some videos but they're very… me.

I don’t know if you’ll still talk to me after you see them.

 

Busan Delusion

ok but like i could just google “famous rappers named yoongi in daegu” and see what pops up

so unless you’re secretly not famous…

this mystery has a time limit

 

Daegu Menace

You could and you’d probably find it in 0.3 seconds.

But I was kinda hoping you’d let me pretend to be anonymous a little longer.

Just a voice in your phone, not a face in your search history.

 

Busan Delusion

you’re dramatic

you literally said “i have a wikipedia page” and “i have music videos” in the same minute

you are the lore

 

Daegu Menace

I know, but my voice is easier than my face… I don’t know…

I don’t think I'm exactly photogenic.

And i guess I'm worried you’ll see it and not want to talk to me anymore.

 

Busan Delusion

i literally got hard at your voice last night

you think a professionally lit face is gonna scare me off??

you could look like a cryptid and i’d still be here asking about for help w my graphic designs

u r u, i don’t care what u look like

plus if u have fans, people must think ur hot

 

Daegu Menace

You say that now but once you see the MV, it’s real.

No more mystery.

Just me, in HD, trying not to blink weirdly and not look awkward while lip-syncing.

 

Busan Delusion

i’m literally begging you to drop the link

i want to spiral accurately

not based on vague incorrect insecurities

 

Daegu Menace

Fine.

But not while you’re at work.

I refuse to be the reason you burn someone’s oat milk while whispering “oh my god oh my god” in the café.

 

Busan Delusion

OKOK I GTG SOON

but later u owe me a video or a link

 

Daegu Menace

Later

When I'm mildly drunk and more confident.

I'm going out for drinks with some producer friends.

 

 

Busan Delusion

ok but if you get tipsy and send me a link with zero context just know i will watch it immediately

and i will send a voice note that’s 90% breathy moaning and one whispered “you’re stupidly hot”

 

Daegu Menace

Or worse, you’ll say nothing because I blink weird and you’ll decide I’m not worth spiralling over anymore.

 

Busan Delusion

yoongi.

you think a little lip-syncing and awkward blinking is gonna scare me off??

please i’ve seen worse in my own tiktok drafts

and ill say again

ur 3 second voice note made me fucking hard as shit

 

Daegu Menace

You’re dangerous.

And I like it.

 

Busan Delusion

ghfjdkshfjdk

Okokokok im calming down

drink responsibly and then emotionally devastate me with your MV

i’ll be waiting with headphones and my dick

 

Daegu Menace

Ok if I send it later, you have to send me a video of you too.

That’s my deal.

A face for a face.

 

Busan Delusion

ok deal

if i send you a video it’s probably gonna be me in bed

dark lighting

hoodie half-on

hair a mess

trying not to look like i’m thinking about your voice while i say hi

 

Daegu Menace

That sounds illegal.

But if you’re going to send me a video, make it count.

No filters. No pretending.

I want the version of you that ruins me quietly.

The one that stares into the camera like you know exactly what you did to me last night.

 

Busan Delusion

yes and ur gonna spiral and then you’re gonna send me your MV and we’ll both pretend we’re fine

EZ

 

Daegu Menace

You say EZ like I’m not already spiralling from the mental image.

Bed lighting.

Hoodie slipping off your shoulder.

Hair messy like you just rolled over and whispered my name into your pillow.

If you send that, I’m done for.

And yeah, I’ll send the MV.

But when I do, I want your full reaction.

No breathy voice notes. I want a video.

I want to see what I do to you.

 

Busan Delusion

ok they’re calling me back but later

you better be brave and drunk enough to send your video

deal’s a deal, menace.

Chapter 9: nine

Chapter Text

Busan Delusion

im home

its late sorry I stayed at work longer than I expected then went to see my eomma for dinner

are u out w ur friends?

 

Daegu Menace

Ye I'm still out, leaving at like 11 I think.

 

Busan Delusion

can I keep u company while ur out or do u wanna be social?

im boredddd

 

Daegu Menace

You can keep me company.

I’m already half ignoring the convo here, just nodding and sipping like I’m present.

Talk to me.

Distract me.

 

Busan Delusion

hmmmm

ok how?

 

Daegu Menace

You have a brain.

… you do have a brain don’t you?

 

Busan Delusion

stfu or ill google u rn

 

Daegu Menace

fuck ok no

Don’t google me

I’m tipsy and vulnerable and the idea of you seeing my stage photos right now makes me want to crawl under the table just

Stay here talk to me like I'm not a name

Please

 

Busan Delusion

calm ur tits I wont don’t panic

i wanna send ua video of me reacting to ur mv

or even better a video call :DDDD

also I may or may not be drinking too…

got called off work tomorrow bc the cafe needs electrical work done

soooo lets goooo saturday night drinking wooooo

 

Daegu Menace

I have a feelinf tonight is gonna be a big night.

 

Busan Delusion

text me when u get home, ill bwaiting, i wanna watch rupauls drag race w a bottle of wine2 catch up w u

 

Daegu Menace

I will

Have fun

 

Busan Delusion

stay safe

 


 

Daegu Menace

I'm home

 

Busan Delusion

hiiii home im jiminie

 

Daegu Menace

This is bad I laughed out loud at that

I think I drank too muhc

 

Busan Delusion

u can never drink too much

u just like make ur self throw up n keep going

 

Daegu Menace

You say that like it’s casual “just throw up and keep going” like it’s normal

it’s not

 

Busan Delusion

im too drunk to argue about my bad habits

u owe me a music video and a face!!!

 

Daegu Menace

You’re drunk and demanding and somehow still charming

I owe you a music video, a face, and probably a wellness check

We're saving that throwing up comment for when we are both sobr,

 

Busan Delusion

shushhhhh semd ne a link

now!!!!!

 

Daegu Menace

Before I do.

Can you promse something ?

 

Busan Delusion

depends what it is

if it’s “don’t spiral” then no

if it’s “don’t roast your eyeliner in the MV” then also no

anythingelse goes

 

Daegu Menace

Nooooo

I mean

Can youjust promise

You wont stop talking to me when you see it

Youre like the only perosn I like talking to and I

Don’t want to lose what we have

 

Busan Delusion

oh my god you’re so dramatic when you’re drunk it’s actually unfair

i’m not gonna stop talking to you even if the MV is cursed and your eyeliner looks like it was applied during an earthquake

you’re stuck with me

so send the link

or im googling

 

Daegu Menace

fuck

Okay

[Sends link]

 

Busan Delusion

oh my fucking god

you’re Agust D

holy fucking

shit

yoongi

WAIT I SAID ID FILM MY REACTION

OR WAIT

DO U WANNA VIDEO CALL???

 

Daegu Menace

Do you not believe me or smth??

 

Busan Delusion

no no I do

i just

i really wanna see u rn

and actually talj to u while I watch the videoand

akso I cant type ppropely anymore

im on bottle 2 now

 

Daegu Menace

i believe you believe me

i kinda want to aswellso if you’re serious

Lemme fix my hair rq and put a shirt on

 

Busan Delusion

u could like#

leave the shirt if u wanna

no pressure ^.^

 

Daegu Menace

Stfu

I'll be five mins

 

Busan Delusion

if u look too hot I might cry btw

wine makes me emosh

 

Daegu Menace

[Started a Video Call]

Chapter Text

[Connecting…]

The video call starts with a stutter.

Jimin’s screen freezes mid-gasp, mouth open, eyes wide, wine glass halfway to his lips. Yoongi’s side is no better: pixelated, lighting that makes him look like he’s broadcasting from a haunted basement, and a lag that turns his “hello?” into a slow-motion horror echo.

Jimin blinks rapidly when the screen unfreezes. “Oh my god, oh my fucking god. You weren't bull shitting. You’re you. You’re Agust D. I’m talking to Agust D. I need to sit down.”

A deep chuckle from Yoongi's side could be heard before a low voice comes down the line, "You are sitting down. I think.  You're frozen right now."

Jimin lets out a strangled laugh, half embarrassment, half disbelief. “Okay, true, but emotionally I just fell through the floor.”

Yoongi’s camera catches up just in time to show him blinking hard, like he’s trying to reset his entire existence. He stares at Jimin for a beat too long, his flushed cheeks, his pink hair, his lips.

Then, with a voice that’s low, rough, and way too honest for the moment, he says, “Holy shit Jimin… you’re hot as fuck.

Jimin short-circuits. His wine glass wobbles dangerously in his hand, and his mouth opens like he’s about to say something clever, but nothing comes out. Just a breathy, stunned laugh.

“You can’t say that… like that.” he finally manages, voice cracking, cheeks flushed.

Yoongi’s camera lags again, freezing him mid-smirk. When it catches up, he’s rubbing the back of his neck, clearly flustered. “You’re drunk,” he says, voice soft and slightly delayed. “And you’re kinda making me nervous.”

"Hey! You're also drunk. This was a terrible idea on both our parts," Jimin giggled before taking a sip from his wine glass.

Yoongi exhales, the sound crackling through the lag like static. He shifts, t-shirt slipping slightly as he squints at the screen. “Okay,” he says, voice low and hesitant, “so… video?”

Jimin blinks. “Like, you mean watching the video? Or me filming my reaction? Or wait… do you mean that other video I said I'd send?” He’s spiralling, already flustered, already flushed.

Yoongi shakes his head, the motion slightly delayed, like his pixels are catching up to his nerves. “No, I mean the music video, dumbass.” he says, voice low and a little too deep.

Jimin nods too fast, nearly knocking his wine glass again. “Right, right- sorry. Yes. Haegeum, right?” His voice pitches up at the end, like he’s trying to sound casual and failing spectacularly.

Yoongi nods, one hand drifting behind his neck as he leans back against the beige panelled wall, his black tour tee that clings just enough to make him look unfairly good in low lighting. His hair falls slightly over his eyes, and for a second, he looks less like a global artist and more like someone you’d catch stretching between takes; quiet, flushed, and way too real.

Jimin’s curled up on the bed, pink hair messy against the pillow, one hand tucked under his cheek like he’s halfway to sleep. The black shirt clings just enough to make him look unfairly soft, silver hoop catching the light every time he shifts.

“You’re staring,” he mumbles, voice low and lazy.

"I know."

Jimin’s cheeks flush deeper, the pink in his hair suddenly competing with the pink in his skin. He shifts slightly, fingers curling tighter under his cheek, eyes darting away from the screen like it might bite.

Okay,” he says, voice cracking just a little, “gonna press play now. No more staring. No more compliments. I’m fragile and wine-soft and you’re dangerous.”

Yoongi doesn’t answer right away. He just watches, lips parted like he might say something, but doesn’t. The silence stretches, warm and glitchy, until Jimin’s fingers finally tap the screen.

The screen flickers.

Jimin gasps.

Then immediately slaps a hand over his mouth like he’s betrayed himself. His eyes are wide, already glassy, and he’s staring at the screen like it just personally attacked him.

“Holy shit,” he breathes, voice barely above a whisper. “You’re so hot. Like unfairly hot. Like ‘I need to lie down but I’m already lying down’ hot.”

Yoongi groans, t-shirt slipping further. “You said no compliments.”

“I meant from you,” Jimin says, flustered. “I didn’t say I couldn’t spiral.”

Jimin’s reaction is instant and visceral.

The first fight scene hits. Jimin sits up, pillow forgotten. “You just slammed a guy into a wall and didn’t even blink,” he says, voice cracking. “That was so fucking hot. Oh my fucking god.”

Yoongi shifts, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s choreography.”

No,” Jimin says, eyes wide. “It’s sexy as fuck."

Jimin keeps watching, but it’s not really watching anymore; it’s surviving.

His mouth is slightly open, breath shallow, eyes darting across the screen like he’s trying to absorb every frame before it destroys him. “You’re walking through that alley like you own the city,” he mutters. “Like you just committed a felony and made it cunty.”

Yoongi doesn’t say a word. He’s leaned back now, one hand resting over his mouth; not hiding, just watching. Dominant. Still. His eyes are soft, but focused entirely on Jimin, like he’s studying the spiral in real time.

Jimin catches the look and nearly combusts. “Don’t look at me like that,” he says, voice cracking. “You’re already murdering me with the video, you don’t get to murder me live.”

"Why not? You're cute."

"YOONGI"

A low chuckle could be heard before a sigh, "Alright, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Keep watching."

Jimin groans, dragging both hands down his face like he’s trying to physically hold himself together. “I can’t. I actually can’t. You’re too hot. I’m malfunctioning.”

Yoongi doesn’t respond; he just keeps watching, hand still over his mouth, eyes soft but unreadable. The kind of look that says I see you spiralling, and I’m not going to stop you.

Yoongi’s thumb shifts slightly against his lip, and Jimin flails. “Stop doing that. Stop sitting there like you’re not the reason I’m about to scream into a pillow.”

“You’re already screaming,” Yoongi says, voice low and amused.

“I’m barely holding it together,” Jimin replies, pink hair flopping into his eyes as he curls tighter into the blanket.

Yoongi chuckles again, hoodie slipping further off his shoulder. “You’re chaotic.”

“I’m having a sexuality crisis,” Jimin mutters, watching the final chorus hit with Yoongi’s voice layered over distorted strings.

"You're literally Bi?"

"Yeah, but now I think I'm gay as fuck for you."

Yoongi’s hand drops from his mouth, slow and deliberate, like he’s finally decided to stop pretending he’s unaffected. His smirk is lazy, but his eyes are warm… too warm. “You’re ridiculous,” he says, voice low and fond.

Jimin doesn’t answer. He’s still staring at the screen, where the video is finishing its final frame. The last shot lingers; Yoongi in that suit, eyes sharp, jaw set.

Jimin’s lips part, but no sound comes out. He’s frozen. Pink hair tousled, blanket half-pulled around him like a shield, eyes locked on the black screen before he taps on Yoongi's face in the corner to go back to the video call.

Jimin blinks once. Twice. Then slowly turns his head toward the video call, like he’s afraid Yoongi might still be watching him unravel.

He is.

Jimin opens his mouth again. Still nothing.

Yoongi tilts his head, voice low. “You good?”

Jimin finally speaks, and it’s barely a whisper. “I think I forgot how to breathe.”

Yoongi smiles, slow and dangerous. “That’s not ideal.”

Jimin groans, dragging the blanket over his face. “I’m gonna need a week. And a therapist. And maybe a cold shower.”

Yoongi leans back again, hand resting over his mouth once more, dominant, still, unreadable. “Or you could just replay it.”

Jimin peeks out from under the blanket. “You really want me to spiral more, don't you? You enjoy this.”

“I like watching you spiral,” Yoongi says, nodding, his voice soft.

“You’re going to absolutely fucking ruin me.”

Chapter Text

Busan Delusion

my head hurts

my heart hurts

my wine tolerance was a lie

 

Daegu Menace

You just woke up? It's 11 AM.

That's kinda late for you.

 

Busan Delusion

yeah well

im hung the fuck over

and still sorta spiralling over u so

 

Daegu Menace

You’re still spiralling?

It’s been twelve hours.

 

Busan Delusion

you caused it

you sat there last night with your hand over your mouth like

a sexy judge and watched me combust

and now im hungover

and emotionally conflicted

and still gay as fuck for you

so

 

Daegu Menace

You’re blaming me for being hot and mysterious while you just exist looking like that?

That’s not fair.

 

Busan Delusion

u literally leaned back with your shirt half off and watched me go insane like it was a sport

you knew what you were doing

you liked it

 

Daegu Menace

I did like it.

You were flushed and dramatic and kept whispering “holy fuck” every time I did anything.

I felt powerful.

 

Busan Delusion

don’t let it get to ur head

ill get used to ur face eventually

maybe

 

Daegu Menace

Will a cursed meme help the hangover?

 

Busan Delusion

defo

send it my way

 

Daegu Menace

u last night

 

Busan Delusion

STOP why is this so accurate

i was Po with a crisis

i was Laa-Laa with a spiral

i was Dipsy with a bottle and a breakdown

 

Daegu Menace

Whose missing? Aren't there four Teletubbies?

 

Busan Delusion

TINKY WINKY!!!

that’s u

 

Daegu Menace

Tinky Winky??

How am I Tinky Winky?

 

Busan Delusion

idk u just r

it just makes sense

im renaming u to tinky winky in my phone

 

Tinky Winky

Please no.

 

Busan Delusion

too late

its cannon now

do u have a red handbag?

 

Tinky Winky

Do I look like I own a red handbag?

 

Busan Delusion

idk u might

 

Tinky Winky

I don't.

 

Busan Delusion

ok but spiritually? emotionally? u do

u sat there last night like u were holding invisible emotional baggage in a designer clutch

judging me

ruining my life softly

it was very red handbag coded

 

Tinky Winky

You’re projecting.

I think you're more like Tinky Winky than I am.

I should rename you to The Real Tinky Winky.

 

Busan Delusion

NO PLZZZ

anything but

 

Tinky Winky

Anything?

 

Busan Delusion

WAIT-

 

Tinky Winky

Okay then.

I’m officially renaming you to Hot Pinky Pie.

It’s giving glitter. It’s giving meltdown.

It’s giving “I cried and flirted at the same time.”

 

Hot Pinky Pie

WAIT NO

actually that fucks

so u think im hot? ^.^

 

Tinky Winky

Didn’t I make that clear last night?

You were chaos.

You were hot chaos.

I like chaos.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i know

ok but now i’m hungover and horizontal again

and i need a plan

what are you doing today besides making me spontaneously combust??

 

Tinky Winky

Currently: lying in bed with one sock on and a headache.

Next: coffee, maybe toast.

Later: Studio with my friend to work on a new track.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

is ur friend hot too?

 

Tinky Winky

He’s objectively hot, yeah.

You'd probably of know him tbh.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

o really??

who is it?

 

Tinky Winky

I'll send you a selfie later with him if you like?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ok but if u send me a selfie and ur both hot i will spiral again

just a warning

no pressure

 

Tinky Winky

Go drink some water and eat something.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ok wow not u dodging that

and parenting me at the same time

 

Tinky Winky

Jimin.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

im getting up im getting up

calm down grandpa

 

Tinky Winky

Good.

Go eat something that isn’t just banana milk and bread.

This isn’t a KBS drama.

You need actual nutrients.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

sozz I went out

I got a smoothie from the café down the street

u happy?

 

Tinky Winky

Yes.

What flavour?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

idfk

I think like berries n bananas n shit

it was called 핑크요정 (Pink Fairy)

thought it was quite fitting

 

Tinky Winky

That’s p accurate.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

did u eat ur toast n coffee yet?

 

Tinky Winky

Ye

No toast, but I got a coffee on my way to the studio.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

fuck

ur so hot even when ur hung over

jesus take the wheel

Chapter Text

Tinky Winky

I promised you a selfie.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

oh

my

god

u werent kidding

he is hot

u r hot

also who is he

for a friend

 

Tinky Winky

For a friend huh?

Also his name is Namjoon.

But you might know him more by RM.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

…..

i need a minute

or five

bear with

 

Tinky Winky

Bearing with.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ok

right

ok

im calm

 

Tinky Winky

Are you?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

NO LIKE FUCK AM I CALM

MY BEST FRIEND LOVES RM

LIKE

HE HAS A SHRINE FOR HIM IN HIS ROOM

 

Tinky Winky

A shrine??

Like candles and photo cards and philosophical quotes taped to the wall??

That’s not a crush, that’s a religion

 

Hot Pinky Pie

it’s a full altar there’s a framed pic from his UN speech

every single album

every version

and a sticky note that just says “he’s the reason i live”

 

Tinky Winky

Ok, that's kinda cute.

Where's my shrine huh?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

you want a shrine??

because i can

i’ve got glitter, printer access, and time

cant afford those expensive ass albums though

u get lomo cards

take it or leave it

 

Tinky Winky

Lomo cards??

That’s budget devotion.

That’s “I love you but I also have rent” energy.

I accept.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

working on it

it takes 3-5 business days

im in high demand u know

ok but real question now

how’s the track going?

 

Tinky Winky

It’s cooking.

Namjoon laid down a verse that made the sound engineer pause and say “yo…” like he’d just seen the face of God in waveform.

We’re building something textured.

Moody, layered, a little dangerous.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

like the kind of track that makes you cry in the car but still feel cool doing it

are we talking synths? strings? existential dread?

 

Tinky Winky

All of the above.

Namjoon said he wanted the bridge to feel like “regret but also clarity” and then stared at the ceiling like he was summoning Plato.

I just nodded and added a minor seventh chord.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i wanna hear ittttt

 

Tinky Winky

No can do.

Confidential.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

UGGGHHHH

 

Tinky Winky

Deal with it.

Go listen to my last album idk.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i did

but naaahhh taetae is gonna freak if he finds out about any of this

he seriously loves RM

 

Tinky Winky

If?

You haven't told your best friend you're talking to me?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

no

i mean

i really fuckin want to but

idk it seems wrong

 

Tinky Winky

Wrong how?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

u deserve privacy

and im the only one who can give u attention

and if I tell him

he wont shut up about it

so yeah ur just for me atm

:)))

 

Tinky Winky

...ok wait that was kinda hot. Possessive even.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

it was wasn’t it?

 

Tinky Winky

Can I ask you a question?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

go 4 it

 

Tinky Winky

Are you single?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

uhhh yes

technically

 

Tinky Winky

Technically?

What does that mean?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

technically single but I see people sometimes

just one-night things

so yeah single

but kinda messy

 

Tinky Winky

Messy how?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

like i don’t do feelings

don’t do follow-ups

maybe see the same person a few times but like

nothing emotional

i don’t do that shit

 

Tinky Winky

Huh.

I get it. I'm in the same situation, I guess.

No feelings involved, you don’t get hurt.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

hiiii im jimin

im fucked up

nice to meet you

 

Tinky Winky

Yoongi, likewise.

I've gtg. Needed for a take now.

I'll message you later.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

have fun!

say hi to Namjoon from me

wait no don't, this is a secret friendship

 


 

Tinky Winky

Sorry its late, I just got back.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

its cool

ive been with taetae

 

Tinky Winky

Oh? The one obsessed with Joon?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

yeeeee

hes still here

we're watching kpop demon hunters and doing facemasks

 

Tinky Winky

Proof or it didn’t happen.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

tae took four selfies so u can have four

 

Tinky Winky

Oh, he's hot too.

Your hair looks more red?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

TOO??

oh shit yeah i forget you think im hot

and yeee tae dyed it for me

I got bored of pink

well it still looks kinda pink but

 

Tinky Winky

Sleepover?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

nahhh ive got work tomorrow

monday ewwww

taes also gotta work at the daycare tomoz so

hes leaving soon

he keeps asking me who im messaging

 

Tinky Winky

What did you say?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

Tinky Winky

 

Tinky Winky

Of course you did.

Chapter Text

Hot Pinky Pie

gmmmm i had coffee and now im vibrating

work is dead today

i have a meeting at 11 so im gonna procrastinate for two hours

 

Tinky Winky

Morning.

I'm tired today. I also have meetings.

Send coffee please :(

 

Hot Pinky Pie

sending psychic espresso and a playlist called “monday is a scam”

 

Tinky Winky

Received.

I’ve got three back-to-back meetings and a half-finished song that sounds like a cat threw up on it.

These lyrics are going to be the death of me I swear.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

do you need help with the lyrics

because i’m caffeinated, emotionally unstable, and full of metaphors

 

Tinky Winky

Tempting offer.

What’s your rate for poetic chaos and minor heartbreak?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

a voice note from u

and a selfie

take it or leave it my dude

 

Tinky Winky

That’s steep.

But fair.

Gimme a sec.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

*gives a sec*

 

Tinky Winky

Stfu.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

holy

shit

look at u

YOONGI MARRY ME

 

Tinky Winky

No.

No.

How do you know about that?

What

 

Hot Pinky Pie

:)

 

Tinky Winky

You’ve been googling me, haven't you?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

maybe

 

Tinky Winky

Unbelievable.

What else did you find?

My blood type? My high school yearbook photo?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

don’t tempt me

ive got time until my meeting

ill do it

 

Tinky Winky

God help me. I’m out here fighting with lyrics, and you’re plotting a full‑scale investigation.

Stay away from my yearbook photos, at least.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

no promises if i find them, i’m printing them on lomo cards budget devotion, remember?

i still owe u a shrine

also u still owe me a voice note or no lyric help

 

Tinky Winky

Demanding.

But fine.

[Sent a Voice Note]

 

Hot Pinky Pie

OH MY GOD

you did NOT just send me that that’s like

illegal levels of intimacy

do you understand what your morning voice does to people??

also fuck u too

 

Tinky Winky

Sure, when and where?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

shut

the

fuck

up

too early for sex jokes

 

Tinky Winky

Is it?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

YES. it is.

it’s 9:30am, i’m in fluorescent office lighting, and you’re out here trying to derail my entire workday with your

stupid deep voice and innuendo

 

Tinky Winky

Oops?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

OOPS?

 

Tinky Winky

You owe me lyric help, if I remember right.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

oh shit yeah

ok

send me what u have so far and ill have a look

 

Tinky Winky

Don’t laugh it's really shit.

My ***(My ***)

Please save me, please save me

My ***(My ***)

Please let me out, please let me out

My ***(My ***)

My ***(My ***)

Save me from here, hurry and get me out of here, yeah, yeah

 

Hot Pinky Pie

not shit but

whats the *** 4?

 

Tinky Winky

Can't think of a title, or what to put there, it just isn't flowing the way I want it to.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ok but like… what’s the song about?

 

Tinky Winky

It's quite personal actually.

About trying to erase memories I don’t want to remember.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ok so it’s about erasing memories like

the ones that stick even when you don’t want them to

the *** has to be the thing that holds those memories

 

Tinky Winky

Exactly.

It’s not just about forgetting.

It’s about the part of me that won’t let go.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

so not something generic like “heart” or “mind”

too vague n soft

you want something raw

 

Tinky Winky

Yeah. Something that makes it clear this isn’t just poetry, it’s biology.

The body betraying you by keeping what you’d rather lose.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ok wait

hold on

doesn’t the brain have that little part

that like stores fear n bad memories

fuck what is it called

 

Tinky Winky

I have no idea let me google.

Amygdala?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

YES

THATS IT

 

Tinky Winky

Wait

Jimin

You might be onto something.

Fuck

hold on I've got to record this brb.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

LMAO NOT YOU RUNNING OFF MID‑CONVO

like “brb gotta trauma‑dump into a mic”

 

Tinky Winky

You joke, but I literally just sprinted mid‑text to go record in the booth.

It works

Like

Really fucking works.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

STOPPPP

you mean to tell me my half‑assed brain spiral just gave you a whole song??

 

Tinky Winky

No you don’t understand.

I literally almost dropped the track count for the album because I couldn't finish this fucking song.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ALBUM?????

 

Tinky Winky

Oh no.

I've said too much.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

NO NO NO BACK UP

you can’t just casually drop the word album like that and then slam the secrecy door shut

that’s emotional exploitation

 

Tinky Winky

You weren’t supposed to know.

I slipped.

You can't tell anyone, it's really hush hush.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

who tf would i tell

like do u think i have a secret press conference scheduled at 3pm??

“breaking news: AGUST D accidentally leaks his own album in my dms”

be fr

ive had ur number for weeks now

i have no intention of spilling ur dirty secrets

 

Tinky Winky

You make a compelling case.

Still, you’re reckless enough that I half‑believe you would hold a press conference just for the tea.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

pls if i was gonna leak anything i would have by now

i could always leak ur sexy voice notes instead

 

Tinky Winky

That’s worse.

At least an album leak has context.

A voice note leak would just be… indecent.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

oh so you admit it was indecent???

good to know i’m not hallucinating the intimacy levels here

 

Tinky Winky

You are utterly ridiculous, Jimin.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i know ;))

Chapter Text

Hot Pinky Pie

that’s it

ive had enough

im quitting my job and moving to Jeju to become a byeonggyul farmer

 

Tinky Winky

Woah, slow down.

What the fuck happened?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

meeting went nuclear

they hated my ideas

like viscerally hated them

 

Tinky Winky

So your solution is… citrus exile?

That’s a leap.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

YOONGI IM SERIOUS

this is my first big big project that i actually give a shit about and they just

looked at me like i was a rookie and told me that my ideas arent what theyre looking for

 

Tinky Winky

What is the project?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

an entertainment company approached my company to do some work externally for them

designing an album for an idol group

well yk the thing they put on the websites to show like what u get in each album

 

Tinky Winky

Ahh, the album inclusions mock‑up.

Photocards, posters, stickers, all that stuff, right?

What group?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

yessss u know the one

like the whole “here’s what you get if you buy version A vs version B”

i actually poured myself into it

and

they just dismissed it like it was amateur hour

also its for XLOV

 

Tinky Winky

Oh shit no way, my friend Hobi loves XLOV.

Show me.

Seriously, send me the work they rejected.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

idk if I can

i signed an nda bc its unreleased music

 

Tinky Winky

Right, okay.

That makes sense.

Don’t break your NDA.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i mean

you probs won’t leak it

you’re literally an idol, secrets are your brand

but for real… can I trust you not to say anything?

like not even to namjoon

or hobi whoever tf that is

 

Tinky Winky

…Jimin.

Not even to Namjoon or Hobi.

Not to anyone.

You know how many things I’ve locked up in my head that could’ve blown up the whole industry if I’d slipped once?

I don’t leak. I don’t gossip. I don’t even hint.

Also not an idol, I'm cooler than an idol.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ur not cool

buttt

… ugh fine but if this ends up anywhere outside this chat

I’m buying my Jeju ticket and you’re personally funding my byeonggyul farm

 

Tinky Winky

Deal.

But trust me.

You’re safe with me.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

OKKK NO JUDGING

 

 

Tinky Winky

That’s just a first draft?

It already looks solid.

What exactly did they say they didn’t like?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

it looks too cramped and there’s not enough space for the final images

and the pcs are too small

also they haven’t even given me a colour palette yet

 

Tinky Winky

…so they’re basically asking you to build a house without giving you the blueprints.

That’s not on you.

Do you want to see the one my graphics team is currently working on for my album?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

…ok yeah

if ur allowed to

that would actually make me feel better

 

Tinky Winky

Of course I'm allowed to, its mine, dumbass.

Alright, give me a sec to dig it up.

And seriously, this is super confidential.

I know you won’t say anything, but I need to say it once more: please don’t show this to anyone.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

You can trust me, Yoongi.

 

Tinky Winky

P sure this is the final version

Also not sure on the album name yet either.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

oh wow

that’s really good

its spaced out really well

Do u think I need to change the size of the image?

Like to how yours is, longer so I can fit more in?

 

Tinky Winky

Yeah, maybe.

Make the image a little longer if you want more breathing room for the inclusions.

That way the photocards don’t feel squashed, and the final images will have space to shine.

Also this is one of two pages, don’t be afraid to split it up into separate pages or space the individual inclusions out more.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ohhh shittt two pages… i didn’t even think about splitting it up like that

 

Tinky Winky

Exactly.

Think of it like a magazine spread.

Page one carries the big anchors (album cover, booklet, CD)

Page two can hold the extras (PCs, stickers, limited cards).

That way each piece gets its own spotlight instead of fighting for space.

It’ll read as intentional design, not “cramped draft.”

 

Hot Pinky Pie

…ok that actually makes me feel way less like i messed up

i was trying to prove everything on one canvas

ill try both one page n two and see how I go

ive got like a week to get it done so fingers crossed

 

Tinky Winky

You’ve got this.

I also have to go, second meeting starts in a few.

Message me after work?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

of course

 


 

Hot Pinky Pie

Im done, omw with tae to get sushi now

r u still in ur meeting?

o ur not replying, u probs are

 

Tinky Winky

Sorry!! It ran over, are you still out?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

taetae got fries at a sushi resturant

i am judging hard

 

Tinky Winky

Ok so that’s a crime.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

FRRRR

how did ur meetings go?

 

Tinky Winky

Meetings were album stuff.

Boring but also not because I love my job.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ok but “boring but also not” is the most emotionally accurate summary of creative work ever

what are ur plans for the rest of the eve?

 

Tinky Winky

Not sure yet.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

OMG

WHAT A COINCIDENCE

I AM ALSO NOT SURE YET

can we finally play that game of league??

 

Tinky Winky

Sure.

When are you home?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

soon, probably like 30 mins

should we say 8:30?

 

Tinky Winky

Yeah, should we call on Discord?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

if u wanted to see my face you could have just said ^.^

 

Tinky Winky

I did.

Just with extra steps.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

I take back my offer

 

Tinky Winky

NO WAIT

Chapter Text

[Jiminie94 started a Video Call]

The screen lit up, and there he was, a little grainy, hoodie half-zipped, blinking like reality hadn’t quite caught up yet. Jimin tilted his head, a small smile forming, somewhere between shy and entertained.

Yoongi stared for a second too long before remembering how faces worked. “Hi,” he said, blunt and flat, like the word had been dragged out of him by force.

Jimin laughed quietly and breathily. “You look exhausted.”

Yoongi shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “I am."

Jimin’s smile softened. “Are you sure you wanna play? You should sleep.”

Yoongi looked at him for a moment, then shook his head. “I’d rather play. A few rounds won't kill me.”

“You’re barely upright,” Jimin teased, but his voice was gentle.

Yoongi let out a quiet huff. “I’m awake. Mostly.”

Jimin watched him for a moment, something warm flickering behind his eyes. “You’re cute when you’re half-asleep.”

Yoongi groaned. “Don’t say that. I’ll log off.”

“No, you won’t,” Jimin said, already opening the game. “You’re too tired to move.”

Yoongi blinked slowly, then reached for his mouse with the energy of someone dragging themselves through molasses. “What’s your username?”

“Same as my Discord,” Jimin said, already typing. “Jiminie94.”

A second later, the friend request popped up. Yoongi accepted it, then sent his own. “Mine too.”

Jimin clicked into his friends list, then paused. “Wait. Holy shit, you’re Diamond 2?”

Yoongi blinked, slowly. “Yeah. Why? Impressed?"

Jimin leaned closer to the screen, eyebrows raised. “I'm Plat 4. I thought you were famous, not secretly cracked at league.”

A lazy shrug. “I play when I can’t sleep. Turns out rank climbs faster when you’re sleep deprived and emotionally numb.”

Jimin laughed, shaking his head. “That’s the saddest flex I’ve ever heard.”

Yoongi didn’t argue. He just started queueing up, eyes half-lidded, posture still slumped like he was one sigh away from collapsing.

Jimin didn’t click ready right away. His eyes lingered on Yoongi’s face; soft lighting, the faint shadows under his eyes, the way his shoulders stayed low like gravity had gotten personal. Yoongi was still staring at the screen, unmoving except for the occasional blink. His fingers hovered over the keys, but he hadn’t typed anything.

Jimin tilted his head, voice dropping to something quieter. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Yoongi didn’t answer right away. His eyes flicked toward the camera, then back to the screen, like he was weighing how much truth he could afford to say out loud.

“I’m just tired,” he said finally, voice low and frayed at the edges.

Jimin didn’t look away. “Tired like you need sleep, or tired like everything feels heavy?”

A pause. Then Yoongi sighed, the kind that came from somewhere deep. “Both.”

Jimin nodded, slow and steady, like he wasn’t trying to fix anything; just hold space for it. “Okay,” he said simply. “Thank you for telling me.”

Yoongi didn’t respond, but something in his posture shifted; less braced, more resigned. He clicked into champion select without looking up.

“I’m not gonna ask you to talk about it,” Jimin continued, voice soft but sure. “But if you want to, I’ll listen. If you don’t, I’ll just be here. Playing support. In-game and out.”

Yoongi’s mouth twitched, almost a smile. “You’re Plat 4. That’s questionable support.”

Jimin grinned, but didn’t take the bait. “I’m emotionally Challenger. Mechanics are secondary.”

Yoongi let out a low breath that might’ve been a laugh. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Correct,” Jimin said, finally clicking ready. “But I’m also here. So queue up, Diamond 2.”

The match countdown began, soft and familiar, like background noise in a room that had already decided to be safe.

Yoongi hovered over his champion, fingers moving with the kind of muscle memory that didn’t need thought. “If I feed, it’s your fault.”

Jimin locked in his pick without hesitation. “If I miss my ult, it’s because I’m watching your face instead of the map.”

Yoongi blinked, slow and deliberate. “That’s a bad excuse.”

“It’s a true one,” Jimin said, voice light but steady.

They loaded into the game, avatars blinking into existence. The screen filled with movement, but neither of them rushed. It wasn’t about winning. Not tonight.

Yoongi leaned back again, eyes still heavy, but his posture less collapsed. “Thanks,” he said, barely above a whisper.

Jimin didn’t ask what for. “You’re welcome,” he replied, just as quiet.

 


It was nearly 11 pm. Their last match had ended twenty minutes ago, a victory, technically, but neither of them had mentioned it. The game was closed, laptops abandoned, and now they were both on Discord through their phones, voices softer, closer, like the distance between them had shrunk with the screen.

Jimin’s camera was moving. Yoongi could hear the quiet clink of a mug being set down, the soft shuffle of feet across tile.

“Tea?” Yoongi asked, voice low and a little rough.

“Tea,” Jimin replied. “It felt like a chamomile kind of night.”

"I'm not a tea person. Despite how much Namjoon forces me with his weird tea collection, he has." Yoongi said. “I keep telling him I’m a coffee person.”

“Let me guess,” Jimin said. “Black. No sugar. No milk.”

“Just bitterness and survival,” Yoongi confirmed.

Jimin laughed softly, the sound warm and a little sleepy. “That tracks. You play Diamond League and drink existential espresso.”

Yoongi let out a quiet breath. “You drink tea and keep me company. We’re balanced.”

Jimin stirred his mug, the spoon tapping gently against the ceramic. “I’ll make you proper coffee one day. Like the ones I make at the café I work at."

He shifted, the faint rustle of fabric brushing against his mic. “It’s weird, isn’t it? Knowing someone this well, so quickly, and still not knowing what they're like in real life, like how tall they are.”

Jimin smiled. “You could guess.”

Yoongi let out a soft breath, the kind that sounded like a smirk. “Alright… you give off short energy. So I’mma say… 5'5?”

Jimin gasped, mock-offended but clearly enjoying himself. “I’m 5'8, thank you very much.”

Yoongi chuckled. “Alright, alright. My bad.”

Jimin stirred his tea with theatrical precision. “Okay, my turn. You thought I was short, so I’m gonna say… 5'7.”

Yoongi snorted. “Seriously?”

Jimin grinned. “Yep. You give off emotionally tall energy, but physically? I’m thinking tragic middle shelf.”

Yoongi laughed, low and warm. “Wow. Revenge guess.”

“Absolutely,” Jimin said. “You earned it.”

“I’m 5'10,” Yoongi said, smug. “I loom. Respectfully. And Tiredly.”

Jimin tilted his head, his gaze softened, "You should get some sleep, it's late."

Yoongi hummed, the sound barely audible through the mic. “I know. Just didn’t wanna log off yet.”

"Why? You're tired, aren't you?" Jimin asked quietly.

"I like talking to you."

Jimin froze.

His hand stilled around the mug. The warmth of the tea felt too close, too much. He stared at the screen, at Yoongi’s face, at the way his voice had dropped into something real.

“Oh,” Jimin said, voice thinner now.

Yoongi shifted, the mic picking up the faint creak of his mattress. “It’s nice. Just… this. You.”

Jimin swallowed. He didn’t do this. Not the soft confessions. Not the late-night closeness that felt like it could turn into something else. He liked the safety of banter, the comfort of distance. Feelings get messy.

“I should sleep,” he said quickly. “Early shift tomorrow.”

Yoongi didn’t push. “Okay.”

Jimin hesitated, thumb hovering over the end call button. “Goodnight, Yoongi.”

“Night.”

And then the call ended.

Jimin sat there, staring at the screen. The silence was sharp. His tea had gone cold. He hadn’t meant to hang up like that. But he knew the rules, his rules. Don’t get attached. Don’t get soft. Don’t let someone make you feel safe enough to miss them.

Still, he missed the sound of Yoongi’s voice almost immediately.

Chapter Text

Tinky Winky

Good morning.

Did you sleep well?

How is the project coming along?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

yeah, its going okay thank u

 

Tinky Winky

Glad to hear it’s going okay.

Did you sleep well?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

slept a bit. not great but it’s fine.

just trying to finish the layout before the weekend

 

Tinky Winky

Want me to look at anything?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

no im ok thanks

 

Tinky Winky

Alright. Just checking in

Going to the studio to lay down the final vocals for Amygdala now.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

wait

u actually are using my idea?

 

Tinky Winky

Yeah. Amygdala stuck with me. It fits.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

oh that’s cool

 

Tinky Winky

Yeah, you want like

Song writing credits?

Because I can and will if you want it.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

no its ok

its ur song

 

Tinky Winky

What's your last name?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

Why?

 

Tinky Winky

Just in case you change your mind.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

I wont

But its Park

Park Jimin

 

Tinky Winky

I like that.

You have a pretty name.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

thank u

 

 


 

Tinky Winky

Are you home yet?

It's like 6pm you usually are by now.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

yeah just got back

 

Tinky Winky

Long day?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

kind of just a lot of revisions. nothing major

 

Tinky Winky

Did you eat?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

not yet

i’m fine

 

Tinky Winky

Want to call later?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i need to finish the final version by Friday

 

Tinky Winky

Oh, can I see when you're done?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

maybe

depends if it turns out okay

 

Tinky Winky

I’m sure it will.

You say that like you don’t trust yourself.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i just don’t want to hype something that’s not finished

it’s not that deep

 

Tinky Winky

Just curious.

I like seeing what you make.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

it’s just layout stuff

not that interesting

 

Tinky Winky

Still. You care about it.

That makes it interesting to me.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

can we not do this right now

i’m tired and rlly busy

 

Tinky Winky

Sure. I’ll leave you to it.

 


 

Tinky Winky

Just sent the song on Discord.

No pressure to listen tonight.

Hope the project turned out okay.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

yoongi, what are we?

 

Tinky Winky

Uh

It's like 2am Jimin.

Are you okay?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i’m fine

just answer the question

sorry that was pushy

you don’t have to answer

 

Tinky Winky

No, I want to, I just don’t know what you mean exactly.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

its just

ughhhh

forget it

 

Tinky Winky

I care about you.

I like talking to you.

I think about you a lot.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

oh

but you’ve never even met me

 

Tinky Winky

I know.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

im sorry

i didn’t mean to make it weird

 

Tinky Winky

You didn’t. You asked something honest.

That’s not weird.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

im sorry for being shitty with you today

im just going through some stuff right now

 

Tinky Winky

Talk to me.

You know you can talk to me right?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

I can't, not with this Hyung.

 

Tinky Winky

why not?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

because

it involves you

 

Tinky Winky

Okay

Then don’t

 

Hot Pinky Pie

what?

 

Tinky Winky

If it’s going to make things worse for you, maybe just leave it for now.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

im not trying to make things worse

 

Tinky Winky

I get that

I do

But i don’t want you to say something you’ll regret because you're upset right now.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i broke my own rule yoongi

 

Tinky Winky

what rule?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

don’t catch feelings

 


 

Hot Pinky Pie

I finished it

 

Tinky Winky

Sorry for the late reply.

I've been really busy today.

It looks great, Jimin.

Like seriously amazing.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

thanks

 

Tinky Winky

Are you busy tonight?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

I have housework to do

 

Tinky Winky

Can it wait?

I'd really like to call you.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

why?

 

Tinky Winky

Because i don’t want to leave things like this.

I've been thinking about it all day.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i said i was fine

 

Tinky Winky

And I have a feeling you're blatantly lying to me.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i’m not lying

i’m just trying not to make it worse

 

Tinky Winky

By pretending nothing happened?

By ignoring me?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

by keeping it contained

i already said too much

 

Tinky Winky

You didn’t say too much.

You said what you felt.

And I get it.

Because I feel the same.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

you do?

 

Tinky Winky

I’ve been trying not to think about it too much

Trying to keep it casual, to keep what we are casual.

I have no idea what we are but I know I like talking to you.

And I want to meet you one day.

And I'm terrified of whatever this is.

I'm rambling. Sorry

 

Hot Pinky Pie

ok

we can call

ill message you when im home

 

Tinky Winky

fuck

Ok

Yes, message me

Chapter Text

Hot Pinky Pie

home

 

Tinky Winky

Free now?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

yes

 

Tinky Winky

Facetime or Discord?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

idm

 

[Tinky Winky started a Facetime Call]

Jimin answered the call with damp hair and a guarded expression, the glow of his bedroom lamp casting soft shadows across his face. Yoongi was in the studio, like always, hoodie pulled up, eyes tired but steady.

Neither of them spoke at first.

Yoongi broke the silence. “You look tired.”

Jimin shrugged, eyes flicking away from the screen. “Can’t sleep well lately.”

Yoongi nodded, like he’d expected that. “Have you eaten?”

Jimin hesitated. “No."

Yoongi raised an eyebrow. “Nothing at all today?”

Jimin shook his head, barely. “Wasn't hungry.”

Yoongi didn’t push. He leaned back slightly, letting the silence settle. “You finished the project finally?”

Yeah,” Jimin said. “Sent it off earlier.”

Yoongi watched him for a moment, then spoke, quiet, deliberate. “Do you want to talk about last night?”

Jimin’s eyes flicked up, then away again. “No,” he said. “But we should.”

Yoongi nodded, slow and careful. “Okay.”

Jimin shifted under his blanket, fingers curling into the fabric. His voice was quiet, almost hesitant. “Can I ask you again?”

Yoongi’s gaze didn’t waver. “Ask what?"

Jimin looked at him, eyes tired but open. “What are we?”

Yoongi exhaled, sharp and quiet. “I don’t fucking know, Jimin.”

Jimin didn’t flinch, but something in him folded. Not because Yoongi was harsh, because he was honest.

“I don’t do this,” Yoongi said. “I don’t get close like this. I don’t let people in easily. But somehow-"

Jimin’s voice cracked, low and trembling. “Somehow I’ve found a way to break past the one rule you have to protect yourself?”

He wasn’t looking at Yoongi. His eyes were fixed on the edge of his blanket, thumb tracing the seam like it might hold him together. But the way he said it, soft, stunned, almost guilty, made it clear he wasn’t just talking about Yoongi.

Yoongi’s breath hitched, just slightly. His fingers stilled on the desk, and for a moment, he didn’t know where to look, at Jimin, at the screen, at the half-finished track blinking on his monitor. He chose Jimin.

Yeah,” he said, voice rough. “Yes. That’s exactly it.”

Jimin nodded, but it wasn’t relief. It was recognition. Like he’d just said something he’d been afraid to admit even to himself. “I don’t let people in either,” he murmured. “I make rules. I keep things clean. I stay in control.”

Yoongi’s gaze softened, but he didn’t interrupt.

“And now I’m here,” Jimin continued, “asking questions I don’t want answers to. Feeling things I don’t know how to carry. And I don’t know if I’m brave or just stupid.”

Yoongi leaned forward, elbows on the desk, hoodie sleeves pushed up like he’d forgotten they were there. “You’re not stupid.”

Jimin looked up, eyes glassy but steady. “Then what am I?”

Yoongi didn’t answer right away. He just watched him, the kind of silence that felt like a hand held out, not grabbing, not demanding, just waiting.

“You’re the only person I’ve let this close in a long time,” Yoongi said finally. “And I don’t know what that makes us. But I know I don’t want to lose whatever we have going on here.”

Jimin’s throat tightened. He nodded once, then again, like he was trying to convince himself it was safe to believe that. His blanket slipped slightly off his shoulder, but he didn’t fix it. He just sat there, exposed in a way he rarely allowed.

“I don’t want to lose it either,” he said, voice barely audible. “Even if I don’t know what it is.”

Yoongi’s lips parted, then closed again. He looked down at his desk, at the blinking track, then back at Jimin. “I keep thinking I should pull back. That I’m getting too close.”

Jimin’s breath hitched. “I was starting to pull back.”

"I know." Yoongi’s voice was steady, but his eyes betrayed him, dark, restless, flicking between Jimin’s face on the screen and the safety of his desk. “I could feel it. You were quieter. Shorter. Like you were already halfway out the door.”

Jimin’s fingers tightened around the blanket, knuckles pale. “I thought if I pulled back first, it wouldn’t hurt as much when you did.”

Yoongi’s jaw clenched. “You really think I’d just disappear?”

Jimin’s gaze dropped, shame flickering across his face. “People do.”

For a moment, Yoongi didn’t answer. He leaned back in his chair, hoodie falling loose around his shoulders, and dragged a hand over his face. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost raw. “I’m not people.”

Jimin blinked, startled by the sharpness of it. He looked up, eyes wide, searching Yoongi’s face for something solid to hold onto.

Yoongi’s voice didn’t waver this time. “I really fucking care about you, Jiminie. More than I should, more than I planned to. And yeah, it scares me. Every instinct I have is telling me to run, to shut it down before we get too close."

He leaned forward, hoodie falling loose around his shoulders, eyes locked on Jimin’s face through the screen. “I’ve spent years keeping people at arm’s length. I know how to disappear when it gets messy. But with you… I don’t want distance. I don’t want safe. I want this, even if I don’t know what to call it yet.”

Jimin’s breath caught, his blanket slipping further down his arm. He didn’t move to fix it. His eyes were wide, glassy, caught between fear and something dangerously close to relief.

“You mean that?” he whispered.

Yoongi nodded once, slow and deliberate. “I don’t say shit I don’t mean. You know that.”

Jimin let out a shaky laugh, the kind that wasn’t really laughter at all. His hand dragged down his face, covering his mouth for a moment before he dropped it again.

“I’m fucked,” he whispered, almost to himself. Then louder, eyes flicking back to Yoongi’s steady gaze, “I’m so fucking fucked.”

Yoongi’s brow furrowed, but he didn’t interrupt.

Jimin shook his head, blanket slipping further down his shoulders. “I made rules for a reason. I don’t let people in. I don’t let myself feel like this. And now-” his voice cracked, “now I’m sitting here with you saying things I swore I’d never say, and it’s too much, and it’s not enough, and I don’t know how to stop.”

Yoongi’s chest tightened at the words, but he stayed still, watching Jimin unravel in front of him. The studio’s low hum filled the silence, the only sound between them for a long beat.

Finally, Yoongi leaned in, his voice steady but softer than before. “Then don’t stop.”

Jimin’s head snapped up, startled. His eyes were wide, searching Yoongi’s face for any trace of hesitation, any sign that he was joking. There wasn’t one.

“You don’t get it,” Jimin said, shaking his head, his voice breaking on the edges. “If I keep going like this, I’ll fall. And if I fall, I’ll break. And I don’t know if I can handle that again.”

Yoongi’s jaw clenched, but his gaze didn’t waver. “You think I don’t know what that feels like? You think I’m not scared of the same thing?”

Jimin swallowed hard, his throat working. “Then why aren’t you running like you always do?”

Yoongi’s lips pressed together, his jaw working as if he was chewing on the words before letting them out. His fingers drummed once against the desk, then stilled.

“Why aren’t you?” he asked quietly, turning the question back on Jimin.

Jimin froze, caught off guard. His mouth opened, then closed again. He looked down at his lap, at the blanket bunched in his fists, and for a long moment, he didn’t answer.

Yoongi leaned forward, eyes locked on him. “You said you made rules. You said you don’t let people in. So why am I still here? Why are you still on this call with me?”

Jimin’s throat tightened. “Because I can’t make myself hang up.”

The admission hung in the air, raw and trembling.

Yoongi’s expression softened, the tension in his shoulders easing just slightly. “Exactly. That’s why I’m not running. Because no matter how much I tell myself I should, I can’t make myself let go. I care about you too much now.”

He leaned forward, elbows braced on the desk, gaze steady but gentle. “I care about you too much to disappear. Even when it scares me, even when every instinct tells me to pull back, I don’t want to. Because you deserve more than someone who leaves when it gets hard.”

Jimin’s breath stuttered, his grip on the blanket tightening. His eyes lifted, wide and almost pleading. “This-” his voice broke, a hand pressing hard against his chest as if to steady it, “this is what I mean. You’re too kind to me, and I don’t know how to hold it.”

Yoongi tilted his head, watching him carefully. “Why not?”

“Because I’m not used to it,” Jimin admitted, the words tumbling out fast, unsteady. “I don’t know how to hold it, how to believe it’s real. People don’t… they don’t stay. They don’t mean it. And you-” his throat closed up, but he forced the words out anyway, “you mean it. And it terrifies me.”

Yoongi’s chest tightened, but his tone stayed soft, deliberate. “I know it does. And I’m not asking you not to be scared. I’m scared too.” He leaned in, hoodie slipping further down his shoulders, eyes steady on Jimin’s. “But what if we let that be okay? What if we’re just… scared together?”

Jimin’s breath stuttered, his fingers loosening around the blanket as though the words had knocked the fight out of him. His eyes flicked up, wide and uncertain, searching Yoongi’s face for any trace of hesitation.

“Scared together,” he repeated, the words fragile on his tongue, like he was testing them for the first time. His throat worked, and he gave a shaky laugh that wasn’t really laughter at all. “That sounds like the worst idea."

Yoongi’s mouth curved, not quite a smile, but something sharper, steadier. “Yeah,” he said, voice low but certain. “Yeah, maybe it is. But why the fuck not?

Jimin blinked, startled by the bluntness, his breath catching.

Yoongi leaned in, elbows still braced on the desk, gaze unwavering. “We’ve both been running our whole lives. Making rules, building walls, pretending we’re fine. And where has it gotten us? Alone. Exhausted. Afraid to even admit what we want.” He shook his head, slow and deliberate. “So maybe the worst idea is the only one left to try.”

Jimin let out another shaky laugh, this one closer to a sob. He pressed his hand against his chest again, as if trying to hold himself together. “You don’t know what you’re asking me to risk.”

“I do,” Yoongi said quietly. “Because I’m risking it too.”

Jimin’s throat worked. His voice was barely a whisper. “If this ends badly-”

“It won’t,” Yoongi cut in, steady.

Jimin swallowed hard, eyes darting down. “If we stop talking-”

“We won’t.”

His grip on the blanket tightened. “If you change your mind-”

“Jim-”

Jimin’s breath hitched, his throat working. “If I mess everything up-”

“Park Jimin.” Yoongi’s deep voice cut through the phone, firm enough to stop the spiral in its tracks.

Jimin froze, breath caught in his chest.

“Breathe,” Yoongi said, quieter now, not a command so much as an invitation.

“Hyu-”

“Jimin,” Yoongi said again, softer this time, but no less certain. His voice carried the weight of something immovable, something that wouldn’t bend no matter how hard Jimin pushed. "Take a deep breath."

Jimin’s lips parted, shaky, like he wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words. His chest rose too fast, then stalled.

"Look at me,” Yoongi murmured, gaze steady through the screen. “In. Just once. With me.”

Jimin dragged in a breath, uneven at the edges, but it filled his lungs all the same. He let it out in a rush, shoulders sagging as if the weight had shifted just slightly.

“That’s it,” Yoongi said, softer now, almost like a secret. “See? You’re still here. With me.”

Jimin blinked, eyes glassy, his fingers loosening around the blanket. His voice cracked on the whisper. “That’s the part that scares me.”

Yoongi tilted his head, hoodie slipping further down his shoulders, but his gaze didn’t waver. “Then let it scare you. I’m not going anywhere.”

Chapter Text

Tinky Winky

You at work?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

i am

café's busy today

also

i was thinking of changing your name in my phone

 

Tinky Winky

Oh really?

Tinky Winky isn't doing it for you anymore?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

it’s… a lot in public

 

Tinky Winky

What, you don’t want Tae seeing “Tinky Winky” pop up on your screen anymore?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

exactlyyyy he already asks too many questions

he thinks I have a secret boyfriend

 

Tinky Winky

That’s hilarious

So what’s the upgrade?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

haven’t decided yet

 

Tinky Winky

Dangerous pause there.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

maybe just…

Yoongi Hyung?

 

Tinky Winky

Just Yoongi Hyung?

Isn't that more secret boyfriend vibes than Tinky Winky?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

hyung makes it sound normal

 

Tinky Winky

Normal, huh?

What part of any of our whatever-this-is-ship is normal?

 

Hot Pinky Pie

stfu

ur yoongi hyung now

 

Yoongi-Hyung

…hold on one sec.

 

Hot Pinky Pie

what are you doing

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Fixed it!

 

Jiminie

fixed what

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Your name in my phone.

 

Jiminie

 …

what is it now

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Jiminie :)

 

Jiminie

hmmmm

did i give u permission to call me that?

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Don’t recall you telling me I can't :)

 

Jiminie

yoongi

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Jiminie <3333

 

Jiminie

stoooppppp

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Not a chance.

I bet you're blushing at work rn.

Am I right?

You're reading this and not replying

 

Jiminie

bc i’m WORKING

not blushing

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Liar.

You’re red all the way to your ears rn, i know it.

Do I make you flustered, Jiminie?

 

Jiminie

istg ill shove this bottle of caramel syrup up ur ass and

 

Yoongi-Hyung

And what?

Sounds hot ngl..

 

Jiminie

YOONGI 😭

stoppppp

 

Yoongi-Hyung

You’re too easy to wind up, Jimin.

 

Jiminie

i hate you

 

Yoongi-Hyung

No you don’t.

You’re still texting me on shift.

 

Jiminie

shut up

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Knew it ;)

 


 

Jiminie

gotta stay late

my coworker got sick and had to go home

open-close is not the vibe

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Rough.

Are you working alone?

 

Jiminie

yeee

we close at five so like fifteen mins

im chill by myself but im so tired

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Wanna call while you close up?

I'm bored, Hobi bailed on me to go on a date with this guy from Grindr.

 

Jiminie

lmaooo hobi really ditched u for a grindr date??

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Betrayal of the highest order.

Left me to rot.

 

Jiminie

u sound dramatic for someone sitting at home in a hoodie probably drinking a whiskey

 

Yoongi-Hyung

So what if i am?

 

Jiminie

so predictableeeee

 

Yoongi-Hyung

Careful.

I can take back my offer of company.

 

Jiminie

who said i wanted to call anyway

 

Yoongi-Hyung

You didn’t say no.

 

Jiminie

ill call u in ten

bitch

 

[Incoming Facetime Call from Jiminie]

When the call connected, the screen split into two worlds: the soft, dim glow of Yoongi’s apartment on one side, and the bright, half‑empty café on the other. Yoongi sat slouched in a hoodie, hair mussed, a glass of amber whiskey balanced in his hand. On Jimin’s end, the camera wobbled as he propped it against the register, the faint scrape of keys and the clatter of chairs filling the background.

“Took you long enough,” Yoongi said, voice lazy but warm, eyes flicking up to the screen.

“I said ten minutes,” Jimin replied, breathless from moving chairs, strands of hair falling into his face. “It’s been ten.

Yoongi tilted his head, a slow smirk tugging at his mouth. “Ten minutes and twentythree seconds,” he corrected, glancing at the clock in the corner of his screen. "You're late."

Jimin groaned, rolling his eyes as he stacked another chair. “You’re impossible.”

“Mm,” Yoongi hummed, fingers tapping out a beat on his keyboard. “And you look really cute in that little uniform.”

Jimin froze mid‑wipe, eyes snapping to the screen. “Don’t start.”

Yoongi’s smirk widened, his gaze flicking between the laptop in front of him and the tiny square of Jimin moving around the café. “What? I’m just saying. It suits you.”

“It’s an apron, hyung,” Jimin muttered, shoving a chair onto a table with more force than necessary. “There’s nothing cute about it.”

“Mhm,” Yoongi hummed again, not bothering to argue, just letting the sound linger as his fingers tapped out a rhythm on the MIDI pad. The faint loop of bass and synth filled his side of the call, blending with the scrape of chair legs and the hiss of the espresso machine shutting down.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Jimin moved through the motions of closing, wiping, stacking, locking up, while Yoongi layered beats, adjusting levels, pausing to listen. Two different tasks, stitched together by the glow of their screens.

Every so often, Yoongi’s eyes flicked back to Jimin. He caught the way Jimin pushed his hair back with the heel of his hand, the way his shoulders sagged when he thought no one was watching.

Yoongi’s fingers stilled on the keys, the loop fading into silence. He leaned back in his chair, eyes lingering on the small square of Jimin bent over the counter.

“You okay?” he asked, voice low, almost casual, but carrying weight.

Jimin glanced up at the screen, caught mid‑movement. For a second he looked like he might brush it off, the usual retort on his tongue. Instead, he shrugged, lips pressing together as he stacked the last chair.

“Just tired,” he said finally, softer than before.

Yoongi hummed, not the teasing kind this time, but something steadier. He adjusted a dial on his mixer, letting the track roll again, a muted beat filling the space between them. “Then don’t overdo it. Finish what you need, leave the rest for tomorrow. You're working tomorrow too right? Sunday?”

Jimin nodded, dragging the rag across the counter in slow circles. “Yeah. Morning shift.” His voice was flat, but not sharp, just worn thin.

Yoongi’s eyes flicked back to his screen, watching the levels rise and fall with the beat. “Then don’t kill yourself tonight. No one’s gonna care if the sugar packets aren’t lined up perfectly.”

Jimin huffed a laugh, soft and tired, the sound carrying through the speaker. “You’ve clearly never met my manager.”

“Mm,” Yoongi murmured, adjusting a synth line, but his gaze lingered on Jimin’s small square in the corner of his screen. “Your manager’s not the one watching you right now.”

That made Jimin pause, rag still in his hand. He glanced at the phone propped against the register, lips twitching like he wanted to argue but couldn’t quite find the words.

Yoongi’s voice cut through the quiet, low and even. “Have you eaten today?”

Jimin hesitated, then shook his head. “…No.”

Yoongi blinked, brows knitting. “Didn’t you say that last night too?”

Jimin busied himself with stacking another chair, avoiding the camera. “Maybe.”

Yoongi leaned closer to the screen, confusion giving way to something sharper, steadier. “Jiminie… you can’t keep skipping meals like this.”

Jimin shrugged, rag twisting in his hands. “I forget.”

“You don’t forget,” Yoongi said gently. “You just… don’t bother.”

That made Jimin glance up, startled, like Yoongi had reached through the screen and tugged at something he’d been hiding.

“I’m fine,” Jimin said, but it came out too fast, too practised.

Yoongi sat there in his hoodie, hair sticking up, track looping quietly in the background. He looked at Jimin the way people look at books they’ve already read twice; like he knew the ending, but still wanted to linger on every page. "You got any leftover pastries there?"

Jimin blinked, caught off guard. “…Uh, yes. Why?”

“Because you haven’t eaten,” Yoongi said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. His eyes didn’t leave the screen, steady and unyielding. “So grab one.”

Jimin scoffed, turning back to the counter. “They’re stale. Nobody wants dayold pastries.”

“I don’t care if they’re stale,” Yoongi replied, leaning forward until his face filled the frame. “I care that you've got at least something in your stomach.”

Jimin froze, rag limp in his hand. “Hyung-”

“No excuses,” Yoongi cut in, voice firmer now. “Just… grab something. Please… for me?”

For a long moment, Jimin didn’t move. Then, with a sigh that sounded heavier than it should, he crouched down and pulled a cinnamon roll from the case. He tore off the smallest piece he could manage, chewing slowly, eyes fixed anywhere but the screen.

Yoongi didn’t even look up from his laptop this time, fingers moving across the keys as the track looped on. “Bigger bites, Jimin,” he said, the words slipping out like second nature, the way a parent reminds a kid to tie their shoes while reading the paper.

Jimin scowled at the screen, tearing off another tiny piece of pastry in defiance.

Yoongi glanced at the screen just long enough to catch the minuscule bite, then turned back to his mixer, adjusting a level with practised ease. “I’m not letting you leave until I see it’s gone,” he said, tone even, almost distracted, like he was just stating a fact.

Jimin froze mid‑chew, eyes narrowing. “You can’t be serious.”

“Dead serious,” Yoongi replied, tapping out a rhythm with one hand while scrolling through presets with the other. “You want to go home? Then finish it. Otherwise, we’ll be here all night.”

Jimin groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “You’re unbelievable.”

“No, I care,” Yoongi hummed, not looking up, the faintest smile tugging at his mouth. “And you’re stalling. Eat."

Jimin tore off another piece, a little bigger this time, and shoved it into his mouth. His jaw worked slowly, like every chew was heavier than it should’ve been. He swallowed hard, his shoulders tightening as if the pastry itself was fighting him.

Yoongi glanced up briefly, catching the grimace that flickered across Jimin’s face before he smoothed it over. His brows knit, but he didn’t comment, turning back to his screen. “Good. Keep going.”

Jimin obeyed, though his movements were stiff, mechanical. He broke off another bite, smaller again, and chewed with visible effort. His throat bobbed as he forced it down, eyes fixed on the counter instead of the camera.

Yoongi’s track looped in the background, steady and grounding. He adjusted a dial, then looked back at the screen, frowning faintly. “You act like I’m making you eat nails,” he muttered, half‑teasing, half‑confused.

Jimin let out a weak laugh, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Fucking feels like it,” he said under his breath, tearing off another piece.

Yoongi tilted his head, studying him for a moment. He didn’t understand why Jimin looked so pained, why something as simple as a cinnamon roll seemed like such a battle. But he didn’t press. He just leaned back in his chair, voice steady. “Almost there. Just finish it, then you can go home.”

Jimin forced down the last bite, dropping the napkin onto the counter with a sigh. “There. Done.”

Yoongi finally looked up from his laptop, eyes softening. “Good.” He leaned back in his chair, stretching, the track still looping quietly in the background. “Now go home.”

Jimin nodded quickly, wiping his hands on his apron. He reached for the phone, lifting it closer, his voice a little too fast, a little too light. “I will. I just- uh- I need to run to the bathroom first, then I’ll catch the bus, okay? I'll message you when I get home."

Yoongi didn’t blink at the excuse, didn’t press. He just leaned back in his chair, stretching, the glow of his monitor soft against his face. “Alright. Go on, then. Don’t forget to text me.”

Jimin’s shoulders eased, just a fraction. “I won’t.”

“Good.” Yoongi’s mouth curved, small and tired but warm. “Get home safe.”

The line clicked off, the screen fading to black. The café settled into silence, the hum of the lights filling the empty space, while the steady loop of music carried on in the studio miles away.